Karri Ramo allowed 4 goals on 34 shots in the loss. Daniel Corso and PJ Atherton had the Falcons goals. Individual assists belonged to Matt Smaby, Norm Milley, Dan Cavanaugh and Justin Keller. Tonight's game turned on a 5 minute high sticking penalty in the second period on Marek Kvapil which Portland cashed in on twice to assume a lead they never relenquished the rest of the way.

Karri Ramo stopped 25 of 27 shots faced in regulation and overtime before stopping a perfect 8 of 8 penalty shots for the shootout victory. For Ramo, who went 0 for February in the win department, it was his first victory since January 19th at Providence. David Spina had a pair of assists in the game while Adam Henrich and PJ Atherton (slipping nicely through a Clear Day loophole) scored Springfield's goals. Matt Smaby and Andy Rogers, freshly dried from a dip in Springfield Republican beat writer Fran Sypek's vitriol, each had primary assists in the game. Daniel Corso, who scored the winning shootout goal, was named first star of the game while Spina took third star honors.

The win breaks the Falcons' 8 game winless streak. Interesting takeaway stats from the game: the Falcons outshot the Sharks 31-27 partly on the strength of Atherton's team high 5 shots on goal. I know someone who wants a contract.

Newly acquired Nick Kuiper was +1 in the game. Joe Rullier did not suit up for the Falcons.

Karri Ramo stopped 31 of 33 shots faced in the loss. David Spina had the only Falcons goal (shorthanded) off assists from Dan Cavanaugh and Matt Smaby. At this point of the season, many of these non-contract players are playing for jobs and Spina, in his last 24 games, has 6 goals and 18 points. In my opinion, he's a guy that the organization needs to keep around on an AHL contract next season. Smaby, quietly, has posted 4 assists over the last 5 games. Ramo was named second star of the game.

Springfield outshot the Admirals 35 to 33 in the game. That's no small feat considering that the Admirals hold the best record in the Eastern Conference. It seems clear that the Falcons have picked up their play of late. What they really need now is one of the youngsters like Justin Keller or Marek Kvapil to start putting the puck in the net. Each were held to just 1 shot on goal tonight.

Gerald Coleman turned in a sparkling 36 saves on 38 shots faced effort but the story of the night was the goal scoring explosion by new Falcon Kyle Wanvig who scored a hat trick to go along with a 1st period throw down in what has to qualify as the most dominating effort by a Falcons forward this season. David Spina assisted on all 3 Wanvig goals and Daniel Corso netted Springfield's other 2 goals. Matt Smaby and Norm Milley each had a pair of assists and freshly recalled Brandon Elliot chipped in an individual helper before being tossed out for being the third man in during Wanvig's first period brawl. The point was the first of Elliot's AHL career and it came on the night where the Springfield organization retired the jersey of former Falcon Rob Murray. Wanvig, Spina and Coleman were the game's three stars.

On a sour note, the Falcons were outshot 38-18 in the contest. Still, this was the first night in roughly a couple of months where Springfield got scoring balance from their first and second lines, which undoubtedly was part of the thought behind the decision to pull the trigger behind the Andy Delmore trade. Unfortunately, with Springfield now 9 points out of a playoff spot the shot in the arm likely comes about 3-4 weeks too late.

Jonathan Boutin stopped 23 of 24 shots faced for the win and actually held a shutout up until just 3:11 left in the game's final frame. The Falcons' goals came from Blair Jones and Eric Healey with assists to Norm Milley and Matt Smaby. Boutin and Healey were named first and third stars of the game, respectively. Springfield outshot Worcester 30-24 in the game.

The win moves the Falcons 1 point behind Portland and Providence which are currently tied with 46 points in the standings and occupying the 3rd and 4th spots (the final two playoff spots) in the Atlantic Division.

Jonathan Boutin allowed 5 goals on 34 shots faced including 4 goals in a second period that saw the birds get outshot 22-4 by Hartford. Damn. Andy Delmore led the Falcons with a pair of first period power play goals and Maxime Boisclair added his first career AHL goal, a power play talley. Individual helpers belonged to Blair Jones, Doug O'Brien, David Spina, Eric Healey, Zdenek Blatny and Matt Smaby. Smaby now has 4 points in his last 7 games. Springfield draws Providence at 4pm tomorrow afternoon. Portland moved back into a tie for 2nd in the Atlantic with a win over Worcester tonight and Hartford, after an abysmal start to their season, has now pulled into third place just 2 points back of the Falcons and Pirates.

Boltprospects staff member Chad Schnarr has learned from the Tampa Bay Lightning that neither they nor Nikita Alexeev's agent knows about his reported signing with Avangard Omsk. Both parties are awaiting official confirmation of the signing. The question now becomes: Did Nikita Alexeev sign a contract with Omsk without an agent?
Also, Boltprospects has learned that despite overtures from the Lightning Matt Smaby has decided to stay in school at North Dakota.

Erik Erlensson of the Tribune [url=http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGBGE7D5UBE.html]suggests the Lightning may move to sign some of their college prospects like Matt Smaby, Brady Greco and Jay Rosehill [/url]to build up their minor league depth at the position. Lightning GM Jay Feaster has made it known he thinks the NCAA ranks are too soft for his taste and [url=http://www.nhl.com/futures/features/prospects_tam040705.html]hinted strongly to NHL.com a Smaby signing may be in the offing.[/url] When Andreas Holmqvist's return to Linkopings in Sweden freed up a roster spot in Springfield it all but sealed the deal that the Lightning would attempt to get Smaby to go pro.